Discussion
Damn this thread!! After years of buying some new cheapies from Next each summer, I've just gone out and bought some Maui Jim Sand Islands...
Also found a set of dirty dogs that I might get for the car as they're more likely to get chucked around so not sure I want to risk using the Maui's!
Also found a set of dirty dogs that I might get for the car as they're more likely to get chucked around so not sure I want to risk using the Maui's!
............................................. 
I have these Ray Ban 3183 sunglasses. They're excellent.
http://www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk/ray-ban/3183/blac...
http://www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk/ray-ban/3183/blac...
MrChips said:
Damn this thread!! After years of buying some new cheapies from Next each summer, I've just gone out and bought some Maui Jim Sand Islands...
Also found a set of dirty dogs that I might get for the car as they're more likely to get chucked around so not sure I want to risk using the Maui's!
Great lenses. A cut above the rest which are all Luxottica.Also found a set of dirty dogs that I might get for the car as they're more likely to get chucked around so not sure I want to risk using the Maui's!
After years of experimenting, what works for me is:
Driving - Serengeti polarised drivers (any frame that's comfortable but the lenses are fantastic - the glass ones are a bit better (but heavier) than the "Polar PhD" ones). These are a cut above everything else for me.
Golf, tennis - Oakley with G30 lenses (Half jacket in this case as they fit my head)
Running, Cycling - Oakley with VR28 or VR50 Transitions lenses (Radar in my case)
General lounging - Oakley X-Metal (although I look ridiculous in them), Oakley Square Wires - always polarised lenses though, Ray- Ban aviators.
Maui Jim are also excellent lenses but I've never found any styles that I particularly like.
One thing to note - there's an absolute trend when Luxottica takes over a brand. Quality goes down, price goes up and customer service levels drop. This has absolutely been my experience over perhaps the last 15 years with Ray-Ban, Oakley and others. Serengeti and Maui Jim aren't owned by Lux and are all the better for it. That said, Lux owns a lot of retail outlets too - which can make things very difficult for manufacturers if they fall out and was apparently one of the catalysts behind their purchase of Oakley in 2007. It's worth doing some background reading on this.
As ever, it's worth finding a good, experienced independent shop and giving them your business.
Driving - Serengeti polarised drivers (any frame that's comfortable but the lenses are fantastic - the glass ones are a bit better (but heavier) than the "Polar PhD" ones). These are a cut above everything else for me.
Golf, tennis - Oakley with G30 lenses (Half jacket in this case as they fit my head)
Running, Cycling - Oakley with VR28 or VR50 Transitions lenses (Radar in my case)
General lounging - Oakley X-Metal (although I look ridiculous in them), Oakley Square Wires - always polarised lenses though, Ray- Ban aviators.
Maui Jim are also excellent lenses but I've never found any styles that I particularly like.
One thing to note - there's an absolute trend when Luxottica takes over a brand. Quality goes down, price goes up and customer service levels drop. This has absolutely been my experience over perhaps the last 15 years with Ray-Ban, Oakley and others. Serengeti and Maui Jim aren't owned by Lux and are all the better for it. That said, Lux owns a lot of retail outlets too - which can make things very difficult for manufacturers if they fall out and was apparently one of the catalysts behind their purchase of Oakley in 2007. It's worth doing some background reading on this.
As ever, it's worth finding a good, experienced independent shop and giving them your business.
LordGrover said:
As my sunglasses were broken, I need to get another pair.
Fancy a change from the de rigueur Ray-Bans - is Serengeti known to have decent lenses and quality? Thinking of these: Amazon.
Don't know that model but yes, Serengeti lenses are just about the best out there. Quality is great too, all made in Japan or Italy.Fancy a change from the de rigueur Ray-Bans - is Serengeti known to have decent lenses and quality? Thinking of these: Amazon.
S11Steve said:
Oakley customer service is also second to none. I've got a number of pairs, including one set of early X-Metal approaching 20 years old that were recently serviced FOC by Oakley UK.
Yes, some of them do look like you are wearing a training shoe on your face, but the Whisker, Plaintiff or Taper range are much more discreet.
Servicing sunglasses, never heard of that before.Yes, some of them do look like you are wearing a training shoe on your face, but the Whisker, Plaintiff or Taper range are much more discreet.
Zoon said:
S11Steve said:
Oakley customer service is also second to none. I've got a number of pairs, including one set of early X-Metal approaching 20 years old that were recently serviced FOC by Oakley UK.
Yes, some of them do look like you are wearing a training shoe on your face, but the Whisker, Plaintiff or Taper range are much more discreet.
Servicing sunglasses, never heard of that before.Yes, some of them do look like you are wearing a training shoe on your face, but the Whisker, Plaintiff or Taper range are much more discreet.
Oakley Crosshair Ti with polarized black iridium lenses:
How about some super cool original Ray Ban precious metals from 1989? Cost me about 300 quid back then. Cool though.
I have a couple of pairs of Maui Jim's now, nice but the polarising can be a pain when driving. The view out the back of the car is weird, all,petrol on water looking!
I have a couple of pairs of Maui Jim's now, nice but the polarising can be a pain when driving. The view out the back of the car is weird, all,petrol on water looking!
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